Frame-Problem to Probe Handoff

Thinking Trail

• Considered: {what approaches were weighed during framing}
• Rejected: {why other domains didn't fit}
• Surprised by: {unexpected signals}
• Triangulation: T1={Keogh level}, T2={predictability}, T3={disassembly} — {convergence}
• Models used: Cynefin triangulation (Keogh + Predictability + Disassembly)
• Constraints discovered: {enabling constraints — cause-effect unclear but hypothesis exists}

Decisions

1. Domain: Complex (enabling constraints, user has hypothesis)
2. Route: probe → sense → openspec-plan
3. Rationale: {hypothesis already exists — skip brainstorm, go direct to probe}

Actions Taken

• Classified via Q1: enabling constraints identified
• Hypothesis detected in $ARGUMENTS
• Scale determined: {boulder|pebble}

Output

🎯 Complex → Probe → /probe → /openspec-plan | OpenSpec: yes | Scale: {scale}

Domain Transition

From: Confused → To: Complex Constraint shift: unknown → enabling. User has a hypothesis ready to test — direct probe without divergent brainstorm.

For /probe

• Hypothesis: {extracted or user-stated hypothesis}
• Enabling constraints: {what bounds this probe — codebase scope, time, tooling}
• Suggested confirm/refute criteria: {what would confirm or refute the hypothesis}
• Prior exploration: None (first probe) or {summary of brainstorm output if chained}
• Do NOT: Skip Phase 1 entry gate — qualify even if hypothesis looks complete

Accumulated Context

Token guidance: target 300 tokens inline. For depth, use references — point to thinking artifact files rather than embedding full content. Soft cap: 600 tokens inline per handoff. If you need more, move detail to a knowledge file and reference it. Accumulated cap: 800 tokens across a chain — compress to 200 at cap (keep: decisions, constraints, rejected paths). References to thinking files do NOT count toward the cap.